Filling-exhaustion-indicating mechanism for looms.



PATENTED MAY 22 O. P. ROPER. FILLING EXHAUSTION INDIOATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLIOATION IILED'SEPT.27,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

"257 t tiev d907,

No. 821,123. PATENTBD MAY 22, 1906.

c. P. ROPER. FILLING EXHAUSTION INDIOATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

k M a 1 07 @eaawwes UNITED STATES PATENT ormon CHARLES F. ROPER, OF HOI EDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COMPANY, OF HQ PEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A JORPO- RATION .OF MAINE.

FlLUNG-EXHAUSTION-INDICATING MECHANISM FOR LOOIVIS.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

. Jzatenteor May 22, 1906.

Application filed September 27,1905. Serial No, 280,306-

sac usetts, have-invented an Improvement in Filling-Exhaustion-Indicating Mechanism for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to automatic looms of the ty e wherein the running filling is replenishe when required; and'it has for its object the production of novel means for detectin and indicating substantial -exhaustion 0 the filling in the running shuttle and thereupon to cause a change the operation of the loom. Such change may be either the stoppage automatically of the loom or the automatic replenishment of the running shuttle without 'stoppfng the loom.

So far as I am aware mechanical exhaustion indicating devices heretofore devised have been dependentfor their operation upon the relative distance between the filling mass in the shuttle and some other particular point at a given point in the mot on of the lay. This relative point has sometimes been fixed or located with relation to the loom-frame, at

other times with relation to the shuttle, and even with relation to the filling-carrier or bobbin itself. The feeler has detected and indicated when the filling has been exhausted to such an extent that the relative distance between the two points mentioned has become equal to a predetermined amount necessary for the operation of the apparatus. In

actual practice a large number of variations have to be considered, due to loose crankarms, difi'eringpositions of the shuttle at the time of feeling, springin of the bobbin in the shuttle, varying sizes 0 bobbins, and varying angles of the latter with respect to the feeler. 'These variations cause the detection to take place while there are varying amounts of filling on the filling-carrier or bobbimand' at times the detection is too late to cause the desired change in the operation of the loom before total filling exhaustion. In my present invention I have so constructed and arranged the apparatus that the variability in operati ,due to the different causes hereinbefore mentionedfhas been eliminated.

So far as I am aware the operation of the mechanism embodying my present invention is based on entirely newand novel principlesto wit, the relative softness or penetra 'bility of the filling mass as compared with the material of which the filling-carrier is composed and upon which the filling mass is mounted, and not upon any relative'dis tances whatever.

filling mass in the shuttle. One member penetrates or sinks into such mass of filling, while the other member impinges against it relative movement of such members is efiected. An actuator isinoperatively' positioned by such relative movement, and this operation-is repeated on each detecting-pick until the filling has been exhausted to a predeter- .mined'extent. Whenthis occurs, however, the penetrating member in practice engages the surface of the carrier at the instant the impingln member impinges against the remaining lling, and both members are given a movement in unison, which results in operative positioning of the actuator. The latloom. I prefer to provide the penetrating member with two penetrating points or extensions, with the impinging member acting between them, so that if either extension engages the harder surface of the filling-carrier the desired action will take place. No ordinary variation in the position of the shuttle, size, or position of the filling-carriercan effect the resul't'in any way, as will be manifest more fully hereinafter. Inasmuch, also,

cause the change in the operation of the loom at the proper time, it' will be seen that no variation in angle of the filling-carrier in a lateral plan'e, due to its springing in the shuttle or irregular positioning of the latter in the shuttleboX, will modify the operation of the feeler device or cause it to operate at the wrong time. Such angular variations in other feeler devices more or less seriously.

The Various novel features of myhnven- 1 tion will befully described in the subjoined The feeler device cbmprehends two members movable relatively to each other and adapted to intermittingly cooperate with the ter thereupon acts to effect the actuation of means which change the operation of the as either of the penetrating extensions can;

practice can and do affect the operation of at each cooperation, with the result that a specification, and particularly pointed out in end of the opening. (See Figs. 3 and/1.)

the following claims. Adjacent the front end the carriage is cut Figure 1 is a to plan view of a portion of away to leave a depending transverse sho l a-loom having app 'ed thereto fillin -exhaust der 16, which abuts against the opposeds option-indicating mechanism embo ying one shoulder 17, to be referred to, a proje cting formof my present invention.v Fig. 2 is a s ring 18,"coi'led areund the shank 11 within ieft-hand"side elevation of the mechanism t e chamber 10 of the stand, tending "to shown in Fig. Fig. 3 is an enlarged top maintainthe shoulders in contaet. The head lanf view of the feeler device, showing the 14 of the carriage is provided, as herein. penetrating and impinging me here thereof shown, with two laterally-separated extenas and the actuator. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sions 19, which are beveled to bring each of section thereof on the line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. the ends down to a blunt and substantially 5-is a detail in plan, showing the manner in vertical edge, and'a longitudinal hole 20 is which the feeler device operates when there made in the head between said extensioiisto is a substantial amount of filling in the shutreceive loosely the other member of the feeler tle. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section thereof device. This member is shown. as a short othe hue 6 6, Fig. 5; 'Fig.. 7 is asimilar rod 21, having an impinging head 22 at its view, but showing the manner in which the rear end between the extensions 19 and exactuator is operatively positioned'whenthe tended forward into the opening Y13 and filling is substantially exhausted; and Fig. 8 threaded at 23 to screwinto a block 24, a"

isga rear view of the transmitter and the check-nut 25 holding the member 21 in adfeeler device, showing the latch'in section on justedposition in the block. The latter is theiine 8 8, Fig. 1. sha ed to presentjtwo lateral shoulders 26,

he filling-feeder F, Fi .2, to contain the, an the front end of the block rojectingbefillin carrierS or bobbins on which the mass yond said shoulder's is provide with an elon- 1 5 of fil ing is wound, the transferrer f, 'selfgated transverse slot 27, through which ex: threading shuttleS, .controlling rock-shaft (1 tends the pivot 28 of an actuator 29, the ends fi fi g ieplnishinent', and the .upof the pivot rocking in holesin the sides of turned arm'd fast ons aid rock-shaft and the carriage 12.. Said actuator is cut out at. having= the pivotally-connected and rear- 30 to loosely 'embracethe front end of the 5s wardly-extended .lateh d to' at times 006 ,block 24, leaving bosses 31, which have shou erate with a vibrating actuator, such as t e derS .32, which are opposed to the shoulders. weft-hammer W, may be and areall-of well- .26 on said block, and by referenceto Figs. known construction. In operation when 4, 6, and 7 it will be seen that the shoulders the rear end of the latch ismoved into the are located abovethe pivot 28 The forward 33-5 ath of'thehead W of the weft-hammer the end of the actuator is transversely notched 10o orwar d swing of the latter pushes the latch at 33, and a leaf-spring 34 bears at its free forward and acts, through arm d to turn end a ainst the under side of the notched the rock-shaft d in the direction of arrow end 0 the actuator, tending to throw it up 200, Fig. 2, to effect, as usual, the operation into operative position. (Ilustrated in Fig.

es of the replenishing imechanism". 4 andalso'in Fig. 7.) Thespring is mounted The actuator, latch rock-shaft, and interin the recessed portion 15 of the carriage and veningconnections constitute controlling is held by a suitablescrew 35.

.means for the loom and, as herein shown, A depressor is mounted on the carria' e and overn the time of operation of the replen is herein shown as having an incline open as ishing -mechanism.

or loop-like head 36 to loosely embrace the 11 lllie shuttle S has an opening 1 in its side carriage, the cross-bar forming the top of the wall .to register with the opening '2 in the head'being'beveled to present substantially a frontw'all 3 of;.the .shuttleox 4 at the de-- transverse knife-edge 37 located close to the I tecting side of the loom, (see Fig. 1,) if the notched end of the actuator, the head having shuttle is properly boxed on each detedtingan extension 33 at its lower gortign, provided 1 15 pick, said openings providingfor' the "ens with a cam-face 39 and sliding in the slotted trance of the feelin device i-nto the" shuttle. part 40 of thelower or bottom member 8 of The *notched hol ing-plate -5 forthe ship: thefeeler-stand. The shoulder 17 ,here1nbe- 5 per g, Tiig. 1, has near its outer end a defore referrerLto, is on the to of theextension en in ug H a tw o-part stand 8 9, chambere at 10, the rear end of the partfS' of 'the stand, as Fig. 4, to receive the cylindrical shank 11 of shown in Fig. 4. Aleaf-spring 41, secured at one'of the members of thefeeler device. This 42 on the top part 9 of the stand, bears at its so member, which in some. "of the 'followin free end upon the top of the depressorhead claims I have termed a carriage,'is shape I 3 6 and retains the latter in proper position. [2 5 as an elongated flattened rectangle 12, hav- The head 36 embraces the, rearwardly-exing an opening 13 therein adjacent its rear tended portions of the part 8 of the stand,

end orhead 14 and recessed at 15at the front and the depressor can de at tljmes toward 6 ,jon which is 'secured 'b' a bolt .38 (see Fig. 4)' and nor rna abuts against 126 the front of the loom to thereby cause the operation of the means which control the opera tion of the loom, as will be explained.

Expansion of the spring 18 moves the member 12 of the feeler rearwardly, and the uptilt given to the actuator 29 by the spring 34 moves the shoulders 32 against the opposed shoulders 26 on the block 24, pushing the latter and the attached member 21 of the feeler device rearwardly in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. At such time the im inging head 22 is slightly withdrawn or set orwar from the upright edges of the extensions 19 (see Fig. 3) by an amount depending upon the desired exhaustion of filling.

As will be understood by those familiar with feeler-looms, the filling in the shuttle is intermittingly engaged by the detecting device, and herein each time the shuttle is.

properly boxed in the shuttle-box 4, Fig. 1,

the forward beat of the lay causes the penetrating member 12 and the impinging member 21 to enter the shuttle and engage the filling mass b on the carrier 1). Prior to substantial exhaustion of the filling the two extensions 19 sink into or penetrate the yarn mass on each detecting-pick, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, so that the yarn between them is impinged against by the head 22 of the member 21, the latter thus being moved forward relatively to the penetrating member and through the shoulders 2632, rocking the actuator 29 into inoperative positionthat is, its notched front end is depressed far enough to pass beneath the knife-edge 37 of the depressor-head as the completion of the,

forward movement of the lay moves the feeler members forward against the action of spring 18, the differential movement of the members 12 and 21 being effected on each detecting-pick and inoperatively positioning the actuator, as in Fig. 6, until the filling has been exhausted tothe predetermined extent. When suchpoint is reached, however, the penetrating extensions 19 come substantially against the relatively hard surface of the filling-carrier practically simultaneously with the impingement of the head 22 against the remaining filling. and as there is not enough of-the'latter to move the head relatively to the extensions 19 both members 12 and 21 will move forward in unison, as in Fig. 7. Conse'uently theactuator 29 is .not moved from i. operative position, and as it is moved forward by the carriage 12 the notch 33 engages the edge 37 of the sliding depressor, sliding the latter forward from the position shown in Fig. 4, and thereupon the cam-face 16 acts to tilt a transmitter and effect a change in the operation of the loom.

The transmitter is shown as a lever 43 44, (clearly shown in Fig. 8,) fulcrumed on'a subst' .11. ."ially horizontal stud 95, mounted on the hoiing-plate 5, the arm 43 extending beneath the latch (1 and normally the rear end of the latter is thereby supported below the engaging portion of the head W of the wefthammer. A lug 46 at such time bears upon the breast-beam, and the transmitter-arm 44 actuator slides the depressor forward, the

cam-face 39Wipes over the beveled face 47, and thereby depresses the arm 44, rockin or tilting the transmitter on its fulcrum 45, ifting the arm 43 and the latch d into position to beacted upon by the head of the wefthammer. filling-replenishing mechanism is effected in the apparatus herein shown.

As has been previously stated, the desired action will be effected if either of the extensions 19 comes in contact with the surface of the carrier on which the filling mass is wound, so that any springing of the carrier in the shuttle or any irregular position of the latter in the box will not vary the immediate action of the exhaustion indicating mechanism at the proper instant.

As one member of the feeler device penetrates the filling mass until substantial exhaustion thereof and the other member always impinges against the filling, I have referred to the former as the penetrating member and the latter as the impinging member in some of the following claims.

By setting the head of the impinging member toward or away from the plane in which the vertical edges of the penetrating extcnsions are located the amount of filling remaining on the filling-carrier when replenishment is effected will be decreased or increased, respectively, the check-nut 25 maintaining the adjustment.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement herein shown and described, as the same may be modified or rearranged in various details by those sliilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I' claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is a 1. In a loom, a shuttle to contain a carrier having a mass of filling wound thereon, filling-replenishing mechanism, and means to control the time of its operation, said means includin two adjacent and yieldingly- IIlOllIllZQCF, relatively movable members one of which is adapted to penetrate, and the other to impinge against, the filling mass in the shuttle, to effect relative movement of said members, substantial exhaustion of the filling permitting the penetrating member to engage the carrier and move in unison with Thereupon the actuation of the which is ing-replenishing .mechanism,

the impinging member, tocause the opera,- tion of the controlling means.

' 2. In a-loom, a shuttle to contain a carrier massof filling Wound thereon, fillhaving a control the time of its operation, saidmeans includin mounte relatively movab e mem ers one I provided with two 1 portions which intermittingly penetrate the lling mass, the other member intermittingly impinging against the filling between said penetrating portions, .to-effect relative movement of the' memberand movable relatively thereto and adapted to intermittingl impinge against the filling mass between 'furcatlons of the first-named membento effectrrelative movement of said members until exhaustion of the filling to a predetermined extent, whereupon the bifurcated member and the impinging member simultaneousl engage the carrier and the remaining filling, respectively, to move the members in unison and efieet the operation of the controlling means.

4.. In a loom, a shuttle ada ted to contain a carrier having a mass 0 fillin wound thereon, filling-replenishing mechanism, and

' means to control the time of its operation,

' mass until substantial exhaustion thereof, an

- said supporting relatively to combined with a yieldingly-controlled, reciprocating member adapted to intermit: tingly penetrate and be moved by the filling impinging member carried by and movable said penetrating member and adapted to intermittingly impinge upon and be moved by the filling mass relatively to the controlling means, relative movement of said members preventing cooperat1on of sald means and the actuator,

tion of the -filling causing the penetrating membert o engage and be moved by the carrier in unison with the impinging member, to

a carrier having thereby effect cooperation between the actuator and the controlling means.

5. In a loom, a shuttle adapted to contain a mass of filling thereon; filling-replenishing mechamsrm and means to control the time of its operation,

combined with a yieldingly-controlled, recipand means to two adjacent and yieldingly portions and the imsubstantially ism for looms,

having two relativelymovable members-1.005

member, and an actuator forsubstantial exhaus-.

wound rocating member adapt'ed to intermittingly penetrate the filling mass at'a plurality of points until subs relativelymova' le memberto intermittingly '7 antial exhaustion thereof, a

impinge'upon the filling between such o1nts,'

to effect differential movement of sai inem-- bers, and an actuator for the controlling means, engagement of the two members with the carrier and the remaining filling, respec tively, causin I son and there y effect cooperation between theactuatorand the controlling means:

6. In a loom, a shuttle adapted to contain a carrier having a mass of filling wound thereon, fillingreplenishing mechanism,,and

m'e'a ns to control the time of its operation, I combined with a yieldingly-controlled, rebiprocating carriage having two adj acentextensions to intermittingly penetrate the filling the members ,to moye in unimass until substantial exhaustion thereof, a 8 5- feeler supported by and relatively movable on the "carriage and ada ted to intermittingly impinge against the-fil ing between said ex-' tensions, whereby differential movement of the carriage and feeler is efiected, predeter- 9o mined exhaustion of th'e'filling permitting simultaneous engagement o I the carriage and feeler with the carrier and the filling remainin thereon, respectively, to

feeler in unison, and a de 5 move carriage and vice to efiect the operation of the controlling means upon such umson movement. 1

7. In filling-exhaustion-indicatm mecham I in combination, a feeler dBWCB".

adapted respectively to intermittingly penetrate and impinge against the filling mass in the shuttle, to. thereby effect differential 1 movement of said members until substantial exhaustion of the filling, ed on one, and controlled by the other of said members, difierential movement of the mem-. bers rendering the actuator inoperative, and a transmitter, substantial exhaustion of the an actuator mountm5 filling permitting movement of said members i 1c in unison, to o r tor-and effect 1 s-cooperation witltthe trans mitter.

I I ll 83 In a loom, 1n,c ,0mbinat1on, a running l eratively position, the actua- ,w

shuttle adapted to contain a carrier with a rig mass of filling, wound -thereon,'and mecham replenish the shuttle" ism to automatically with-a feeler' to interwith filling, combined mittin ly 1m in e against and be moved-'b g p which the feelerfsftz said carriage ,having an extension at eaclpsideef the feeler the fill ng, a carriage on mounted relatively movable,

to intermittingly. penetrate the filling mass until substantial exhaustion thereof, to theref;

by effect differential movement of the c'ar 1 25 riageandieele an actuator mounted on the carriage and coiftfol'l'edfby theifeeler, differ, ential movement of carriage and feeler render ing the actuator ino erative,

cause the operation 0 and means to the replenishing meche r 0 anism by or through the actuator when operatively positioned, substantial exhaustion of the filling causing the extensions of the carriage and the feeler to simultaneously cooperate, respectively, with the carrier and the filling remainin thereon, to effect unison movement of t e carriage and feelcr and thereby o eratively position the actuator.

9. Infil ing-exhaustion-indicating mechanr ism forlooms, in combination, two adjacent and relatively movable members one of which is adapted to penetrate, and the other to im-- pinge against, the filling mass in the shuttle, to effect relative movement of said members, substantial exhaustion of the filling causing ,the members to move in unison, and means operated by or through such unison movement to control the operation of. the loom.

10. In filling-exhaustion-indicating mechanism for looms, in combination, a feeler device having two relatively movable members one of which is adapted to intermittingl y penetrate, and the other to impinge against, the filling mass in the shuttle, to effect differential movement of the said members until substantial exhaustion of the filling, such, exhaustion of filling causing movement of the members in unison, and filling-replenishing mechanism the operation whereof is effected by or through such unison movement of said members.

11. A controllin mechanism for looms," having two relative y movable members one supporting-the other, one of said members being adapted to intermittingly enetrate, and the other to impin of said members until substantial exhaustion of the filling, said members. thereupon being moved, in unison, and means operated by such unison movement to cause the actuation of the controlling mechanism.

12. In a loom, a shuttle adapted to contain a carrier having a mass of filling wound thereon, means to change the operation of the loom, and a device cooperating with the filling to effect the actuation of said means by or through the relative density of the carrier and the filling thereon when the latter is exhausted to apredetermined extent.

13. In a loom, a shuttle adapted to contain a carrier having a mass of filling wound thereon, means to automatically change the filling in the shuttle, and adevice mtermittingly cooperating with the filling to effect the actuatlon of. the filling-changing means by or throu h the relative density of the carrier and tl e filling thereon when the latter is exhausted to a predetermined extent.

14. In a loom, a shuttle adapted to contain a carrier having a mass of filling wound thereon, means to change the operation ofthe loom, and a feeler device having two relatively movable members adapted respectiv'eiy to mtermittingly penetrate and im-i e against, t e filling mass: in the shuttle, to e ect differential movement pinge upon the fillin mass, to effect differential movement of sai members until substanfecting the actuation of the' means which change the operation of the 106m.

15. In a loom, a shuttle adapted to contain a-carrierhaving a mass of filling wound thereon, means to change the operation of the loom, and a feelerdevice having two rela-.

tively movable members adapted respectively to intermittingly penetrate and 1mpinge upon the filling mass, to effect differential movement of said members until substantial exhaustion of the fillin one of said members being supported by t eother, substantial exhaustion of the filling permitting the penetrating member to engl ge the carrier and to move in unison wit the impinging member, to cause the actuation of the means which chan e the operation of the loom.

- '16. In fil ing-exhaustion-indicatin mechanism for looms, in combination, ayie din lysustained reciprocating carria e, adapte to intermittingly enetrate the ling mass in the shuttle, a eeler longitudinally movable on the carriage and ada ted to intermittingly im inge a ainst the filing mass, to effect a di 'erentia movementof the carriage and feeler until substantial exhaustion of the filling, a rocking actuator mounted on the carria e and operatively connected with the feefer, movement of the latter. relatively to the carriage rendering the actuator ino erative, substantial exhaustion of the ling causing the carriageand feeler to move in unison and thereby to operatively position the actuator, and means to control the operation of the loom, actuated by thef'actuator when operatively positioned.

17. In filling-exhaustion-indicatin anism for looms, in combination, a .yief sustained reciprocating carriage having two mechbevel-faced extensions to mtermittingly penetrate the filling mass in the shuttle, a feeler longitudinally movable on the carnage and adapted to mtermittingly impinge against the filling mass between said extensions, to efiect a difierential movement of carria e and feeler until substantial exhaustion of t e filling, an actuator mounted on the carriage and operatively connected With the feeler, movement of the latter relatively to the carriage .rendering the actuator inoperative, substantial exhaustion of the filling causing the car riage and feeler to move in unison and therebyto operatively position the actuator, and means the operation whereofis effected by the'actuator when operatively ositioned.

18. In a loom provided wit automatic filling-replenishing mechanism, and a shuttle adapted to contain a carrier having a mass of filling wound thereon, in combination, a dedingl y i vice intermittingiy cooperating with such fiilmime to this specification" in the presence 0F ing mass to effect the actuation of the replentwo subscribing Witnesses.

ishin'g mechanism by 01' through the relative v density of the carrier and the filling thereon CHARLES ROPER 5 when the latter is exhausted to a predeter- Witnesses: I,

mined extent. GEORGE OTIS DRAPER,

In testimony whereof I have signed my ERNEST W. WOOD. 

